A · B · C · D · E · F · G · H · I · J · K · L · M · N · O · P · Q · R · S · T · U · V · W · X · Y · Z · #

MY RECORD

COLLECTION

HOME· ARTISTS· ALBUMS· COUNTRY· LABELS· GENRES· WANTS

Bardo Pond

No one sums up psychedelic stoner rock better than Bardo Pond. The group has been on the scene for almost twenty years now and they still earn the respect of their fans due to their continuing efforts to stay true to themselves. Indeed, the band's sound, although it has evolved throughout the years, has never strayed to far away from it's roots. From their debut album and early 7"s on to their "cleaner" releases, the Bardo Pond sound is unmistakable: lazy tempo, slow and steady build ups which often explode in a barrage of crunchy guitar distortion, droning soundscapes, sloppy solos, lovely and bare string arrangements. A smoke filled evening just wouldn't be the same without at least a few minutes of Bardo Pond. Listening to them, you can almost feel your beard starting to grow at a frightening rate and your clothes suddenly turning into an untidy plaid flannel fabric!

You gotta respect a band who is so openly influenced by the whole hallucinogenic drug scene and who have managed to find the fitting sound. With album titles such as Bufo Alvarius Amen 29:15 (the scientific name of a toad whose glands secrete a hallucinogenic substance), Amanita (a species of mushroom who are mostly deadly, except for one who - you've guessed it - causes hallucinations), Set And Setting (a term coined by drug guru Timothy Leary about the favorable - and unfavorable - conditions in which such drugs are taken), Dilated (well, you get the idea), it's pretty clear what we are getting into from the get go.

Ever since the bands left Matador (which first signed the band after hearing their early tapes and 7"), the band seem to have gotten a boost of productivity, releasing more and more albums, collections, odds and ends on different labels by following the CD-R trend. It's a shame I haven't gone ahead and bought their albums back when they first were released. I had heard about them, even listened to a few albums, loved them, but a teenager's salary usually meant limited possibilities and my path lead me elsewhere. But it's never too late and after finding a few used albums in a store, I decided it was high time (no pun intended) to get started.

---